AMETHYST

What is Amethyst

Amethyst is Purple or Violet shaded quartz gemstone. It is a form of Quartz and comes in different hues of Purple.

As it is a variety of Quartz crystal it is made from Silicon Dioxide and its Purple shade is because of impurities Like Iron and in some cases some other elements or Transition metals.

Amethyst is a semi-precious gemstone but, till 18^th century Amethyst was considered a precious gemstone. It was said to be a part of “Cardinal”.

Cardinals are said to be the most precious gems which are Diamond, Sapphire, Emerald and Ruby. Until a large deposit of Amethyst were found in Brazil and it lost its value as precious gem.

Amethyst has a rich history and is said to have a tail of more than 2000 years. It was valued a lot and was considered to have mystical powers. Greek considered it a powerful stone against drunkenness.

Tibetans made beads of Amethyst and gave it a very sacred value and relate it to Buddha. In Middle Ages it was a symbol of royalty. Medieval European soldiers use to wear Amethyst, believing it keep you cool.

Ancient Egyptians and Romans used Amethyst for “Intaglio Engraved Gems”, which means that the single side of the stone was engraved with some image of a personality or Inscriptions.

Romans king Caracalla (Commonly known as Antonius, was emperor from 198 to 217) image was found engraved on Amethyst in the treasury of Sainte-Chappelle.

Amethyst are found in Geode, which are said to form when Gas bubbles get trapped in the Lava and when it cools and hardens around trapped bubbles.

These bubbles form Cavities in which Amethyst is formed. These bubbles can range from microscopic size to feet’s long.

After the formation of Cavities, process of Crystal Formation takes place. It is said that the Salt Water which enters the lava moves in the cavities. As salt water contains Silica and other minerals that it bring along with it.

Then with passing Thousands or Millions of years pressure and reactions form crystals within the cavities. It’s not only Amethyst that is formed but, layers are formed of different elements e.g. Celadonite, then Agate, then Quartz and finally Amethyst is formed.         

Amethyst is a stone of February. It takes its place at 7 out of 10 on Mohs Hardness Scale.

Though Amethyst is a semi-precious gemstone but its value depends on its Color instead of Carats. Amethysts are often given names like Plum colored, Lavender colored, Rose colored, Raspberry or Grape colored.

 If Amethyst is in its Rich shade of Violet with a slight tint of Blue it is considered very valuable, rare and can be priced very high.

Types of Amethyst

Deep Purple/Deep Russian or Siberian Amethyst

Amethyst which is of Rich Purple or Reddish Purple Shade with slight tints of Blue seen in light is considered the best quality gemstone.

Amethyst like Turquoise has become a color name along with the name of gem. Amethysts are often identified or valued on the bases of the color it possess.

Such Amethyst is known by the name “Deep Russian” because such colored Amethysts were found in Siberia with color so rich and beautiful. Later, that mine of Siberia was exhausted and now they are very rare to found in Russia.

Yet high quality Amethyst are found in Brazil, Uruguay and Sir Lanka.

Rose De France Amethyst

It is the type of Amethyst which is found in lighter shades of Purple more of like Lilac shade.

It is not considered of much value, as that with the pure Purple shade and is not very expensive. But, now it is said that it is gaining its value because it looks very beautiful in jewelry and people are considering it.

It is found in best quality in Brazil, Minas Gerais and Maraba. Rose de France is also found in Africa, South and North America. 

Prasiolite or Green Quartz (sold as Green Amethyst)

­There is no such thing as Green Amethyst. It’s a word used by dealers, which is not a true statement and is a misleading name.

Federal Trade Commission has strictly forbidden such moves, for instance, Yellow brownish colored quartz is sold by calling it “Citrine” or “Yellow Emerald”. P.s there is no such thing as Yellow Emerald.

Same goes with Green Amethyst there is nothing known as Green or Pale Green Amethyst. An Amethyst naturally or mostly synthetically is produced by passing Amethyst through “Heat Treatment or Irradiation” process to change its color.

At 150 Degree Celsius, Amethyst color is forced to change and takes the Greenish shade which is said to be Prasiolite or Green Quartz not Green Amethyst.

Ametrine

Ametrine is not counted in the category of Amethyst by some specialist, they state that it has its own identity.

Ametrine basically is a naturally found form of Quartz, it is a mixture of Amethyst and Citrine. It is dual color zoned Purple and Yellow or Orange.

It is known as Trystine or Bolivianite. It is known as Bolivianite because it is found in abundance, in the mines of Bolivia.

Amethyst Quartz or Tumbled Stone

Amethyst Quartz is the combination of Amethyst and Milky Quartz and it is also Color Zoned like Ametrine.

It is mostly purple from the top and white from the base, as this base rock known as Quartz is attached to it.

It is also found in patterns like V or Banded forms and people often make there beads to use it in the jewelry.

Origin of Amethyst

Amethyst are found in Brazil(Largest Produce of Amethyst), Zambia, Bolivia, Uruguay, Sri Lanka, USA, Mexico, Austria, Pakistan, Morocco, Russia Myanmar, China, Namibia, Kenya, Madagascar and India.